Use of ultraconserved rna in detection and treatment of cancer

Abstract

A method of analyzing a biological specimen to detect cancer in a subject, involving determining an ultraconserved RNA in the specimen and comparing the expression level to a control. The ultraconseved RNA may be uc.338 and may be used to detect hepatocellular cancer. Transcript RNA encoding ultraconserved RNA may also be used to detect cancer. Anti-cancer compositions and tumor-suppressing agents for treating cancer are also provided.

1 . A method of analyzing a biological specimen to detect cancer in a subject, comprising the steps of:
 determining the expression level of an RNA sequence in the specimen;   comparing the determined expression level to a control, wherein a pre-identified difference between the determined expression level and the control is indicative of cancer in the subject.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RNA sequence is uc.338. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RNA sequence is selected from the group consisting of uc.338, uc.24, uc.189, uc.134, uc.378, uc.349, uc.78, uc.233, uc.262, uc.331, uc.136, and uc.246. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RNA sequence is selected from the group consisting of uc.110, uc.473, uc.275, uc.477, uc.269, uc.448, and uc.20. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the subject is a mammal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cancer is a hepatocellular cancer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the control is a non-malignant hepatocyte. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of determining the expression level includes the substep of determining the expression level by at least one of the following: an amplification assay and a hybridization assay. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RNA sequence is TUC338. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RNA sequence is for a transcript that is capable of encoding an ultraconserved RNA selected from the group consisting of uc.338, uc.24, uc.189, uc.134, uc.378, uc.349, uc.78, uc.233, uc.262, uc.331, uc.136, and uc.246. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RNA sequence is for a transcript that is capable of encodring an ultraconserved RNA selected from the group consisting of uc.110, uc.473, uc.275, uc.477, uc.269, uc.448, and uc.20. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the subject is a mammal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the the subject is a human. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cancer is a hepatocellular cancer. 
     
     
         16 . A tumor-suppressing agent comprising, as an active ingredient, at least one of:
 a double-stranded RNA complementary to a transcript of an ultraconserved RNA gene; a DNA encoding a double-stranded RNA complementary to a transcript of an ultraconserved RNA gene; and a venctor carrying, as an insert, a DNA encoding a double-stranded RNA complementary to a transcript of an ultraconserved RNA gene.   
     
     
         17 . The tumor-suppressing agent of  claim 16 , wherein the ultraconserved RNA gene is selected from the group consisting of uc.338, uc.24, uc.189, uc.134, uc.378, uc.349, uc.78, uc.233, uc.262, uc.331, uc.136, and uc.246. 
     
     
         18 . The tumor-suppressing agent of  claim 16 , wherein the ultraconserved RNA gene is selected from the group consisting of uc.110, uc.473, uc.275, uc.477, uc.269, uc.448, and uc.20. 
     
     
         19 . The tumor-suppressing agent of  claim 16 , wherein the transcript is TUC338. 
     
     
         20 . An anti-cancer composition comprising:
 an active ingredient that binds to uc.338, the active ingredient selected from one of the following: an antisense oligonucleotide, ribozyme, siRNA, or any combination thereof.